Georgia’s ruling party MP slams German, French leaders as “illegitimate”

Irakli Zarkua, MP from Georgia’s ruling party, on Monday slammed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron for being “illegitimate” with alleged double standards. 

Zarkua’s comments come amid ongoing debates over European standards and criticism of Georgia’s political climate.

According to the MP, European leaders were displaying a double standard towards Georgia. “Critical statements are not a problem for us. We demand that criticism be objective, fair, and based on specific arguments,” he said.

Zarkua specifically criticized the stance on Georgia’s transparency law. “You call me and tell me not to adopt the law on transparency because this law is Russian – it is injustice. When the first and second chambers of France pass a much stricter law… Just like Spain, Canada, and Turkey pass similar laws, and you say nothing. This is a double standard and unacceptable,” he said.

He also targeted Scholz and Macron directly. “For me, Scholz is illegitimate. When I read the morals of Scholz, who finished last in his party in his own country, a worthy leader would resign and leave. He has no dignity! Second, it is France – Macron! Your own population does not trust you, your own population refuses you, and you come out and tell this country and nation of ancient civilization and culture [Georgia] that it deviates from European values. You are on the wrong track.”

 

He further noted “we will not tolerate injustice, no matter who it is and no matter what the leader is. Those who will wrongly touch my country, my people, my culture, my approaches… We are the bearers of European values and one of the founders. We defended Christianity, which is the initial and all-encompassing value that you are proud of today,” he added, and claimed the US was expected to “reject double standards soon”.